Statue Sponsorship

Donate Today!

Preferred method mail to:
Trail of Governors
1714 N. Lincoln
Pierre, SD 57501

Click here to Donate Online!

Donations of any amount are welcome and will be posted on the Donors page.

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Donated to Date:

$‭‭‭1,941,519.12

updated 9/14/2020

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Endowment Balance:

$‭29,886.36‬

updated 4/3/2020

Each statue along the Trail of Governors will cost $72,000 to design, sculpt and erect. To help fund this exciting project, major sponsorships are being offered for those funding:

One-quarter Statue

$18,000

Three-quarter Statue

$54,000

One-half Statue

$36,000

One-full Statue

$72,000

The sponsors can fund the pledges over multiple years before the statue is completed.

These special sponsors will be recognized on a plaque, permanently affixed to the statue. The plaques will have four lines of 50 characters and sponsors will receive one line for each quarter of the statue. For instance, individuals who sponsor one-quarter statue will receive one line of text. Those sponsoring an entire statue will receive four lines of text. Corporate logos will not be placed on the sculptures.

Download a Trail of Governors sponsorship form – Trail of Governors Sponsorship Form.

Funds for the Trail of Governors Foundation will be placed in an account with the South Dakota Community Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible and sponsors will be invited to special unveiling ceremonies in Pierre!

Donations of any amount are welcome and are recorded on the donor page along with the Governor donated to.

The following is a list of our special sponsors to date:

The funded pledges are shown in green

Non-Specific Statue Sponsors:

Lance and Julie Burma in memory of Walter D. Miller – $17,000
Scott and Julia Jones – $18,000

33rd Gov. Kristi Noem Scheduled for 202? (End of term)

32nd Gov. Dennis Daugaard (2011-2019)

Friends and Family of Governor Dennis Daugaard – $18,000
Rotarians of District 5610 – $18,000
South Dakota Community Foundation – $18,000
Scott and Julia Jones – $18,000

31st Gov. M. Michael Rounds (2003-2011)

Families of Steve and Trace Beck – Beck Motor Company – $17,000
Fischer Rounds and Associates – $17,000
Friends and Family of Governor M. Michael Rounds – $34,000

27th and 30th Gov. William J. Janklow (1979-1987 and 1995-2003)

Family and Friends – $68,000

29th Gov. Walter D. Miller (1993-1995)

Walter D. Miller Family – $17,000
Mansour Karim Family – $17,000
Leroy and Charlene Foster – $17,000
Lt. Governor Steve and Suzette Kirby – $17,000

28th Gov. George S. Mickelson (1987-1993)

Linda Mickelson Graham – Mickelson Family Fund – $51,000
South Dakota Community Foundation – $17,000

26th Gov. Harvey Wollman (1978)

Charles and David Gwinn – $18,000
Scott and Julia Jones – $18,000

25th Gov. Richard Kneip (1971-1978)

Friends and Family – $68,000

24th Gov. Frank Farrar (1969-1971)

First National Bank – 1/3 Sponsorship
First Savings Bank – 1/3 Sponsorship
Capital Card Services – 1/3 Sponsorship

23rd Gov. Nils Boe (1965-1969)

Bankwest/Charles Burke II – $68,000

22nd Gov. Archie Gubbrud (1961-1965)

Gary and Connie Grittner – $17,000
Leroy Foster and April Smart – $18,000

21st Gov. Ralph Herseth (1959-1961)

Friends of the Trail of Governors
Family and friends of Governor Ralph Herseth
Scott and Julia Jones (In memory of his assistant Eugenia Norbeck) – $18,000

20th Gov. Joe Foss (1955-1959)

Farm Credit Services of America – $17,000
Dr. Frank and Pamela Foss, Mary Joe Foss Finke – $17,000
Chuck and Bonny Schroyer – $18,000
Friends and Family – $17,000

19th Gov. Sigurd Anderson (1951-1955)

Leroy and Charlene Foster – $24.000
Mansour and Ruth Karim – $25,000
Mark and Glennis Zarecky – $24,000

18th Gov. George T. Mickelson (1947-1951)

Thomas and Patricia Adam – $17,000
G Mark and Cynthia Mickelson – $17,000
Karlton C. and Joan Adam Family/ Dakota State Bank – 1/6 Sponsorship
Joseph and Kathryn Carmody – 1/6 Sponsorship
Thomas and Kristin Reaves and Family – 1/6 Sponsorship

17th Gov. Merrell Sharpe (1943-1947)

Leroy and Charlene Foster – $18,000
Gary and Connie Grittner – $17,000
Rick and Ana Jensen – $18,000
Lynn’s Dakotamart, Inc. – $18,000

16th Gov. Harlan Bushfield (1939-1943)

Harlan Bushfield Family – $17,000
American Bank & Trust, Miller SD – $17,000
Leroy & Charlene Foster – $17,000

Trail of Governors Board Members

Rick Jensen – $2500
Patricia Van Gerpen – $2500
Tina Van Camp – $2500
Patricia Adam – $2500
Leroy Foster – $2500
Patricia Miller – $2500
Chuck Schroyer – $2500

15th Gov. Leslie Jensen (1937-1939)

Karen Jensen Ozias – $18,000
Leroy and Charlene Foster – $18,000
Natalie Jensen – $18,000
Les Jensen – $18,000

14th Gov. Tom Berry (1933-1937)

First National Bank of Philip – $18,000
Family and friends of Governor Berry – $54,000

13th Gov. Warren Green (1931-1933)

Leroy and Charlene Foster – $25,000
Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren of Governor Warren Green – $18,000
Mansour and Ruth Karim – $25,000

12th Gov. William Bulow (1927-1931)

Gary and Connie Grittner – $18,000

11th Gov. Carl Gunderson (1925-1927)

No major sponsors to date

10th Gov. William McMaster (1921-1925)

Friends of the Trail of Governors – $36,000
Scott and Julia Jones – $18,000
South Dakota Bankers Association – $18,000

9th Gov. Peter Norbeck (1917-1921)

Dr. Karl and Margaret Cash Wegner – $34,000
David and Rebecca Scott – $34,000

8th Gov. Frank Byrne (1913-1917)

Scott and Julia Jones – $18,000

7th Gov. Robert Vessey (1909-1913)

South Dakota Retailers Association – $34,000
Ron & Linda Olinger Honoring Jerry Wheeler – $17,000
Gus & Jan Ritchey – $17,000

6th Gov. Coe Crawford (1907-1909)

Jason and Michelle Glodt Family – $18,000

5th Gov. Samuel Elrod (1905-1907)

Gary and Connie Grittner – $18,000
Leroy Foster and April Smart – $18,000

4th Gov. Charles Herreid (1901-1905)

Friends of the Trail of Governors – $36,000
Governor’s Inn/Leroy Foster and John Poncelet, Manager – $17,000
Scott and Julia Jones – $18,000

3rd Gov. Andrew Lee (1897-1901)

Jay and Elizabeth Vogt – $18,000

2nd Gov. Charles Sheldon (1893-1897)